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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, June 01, 2012

Fenkle Street the Frith Street of the North

(By RUSSELL).
Hotel Indigo opened to the public today. A 4 star hotel on Fenkle Street in Newcastle, the launch was attended by...well, I'm sure things will pick up. In the foyer (Marco Pierre White Brasserie) Graham Brown played piano. The pianist's regular gig is with the Paul James Band (resident last Friday of the month at Jesmond Dene House Hotel). Free bubbly was on offer but I resisted all attempts to get me to imbibe. Brown played Route 66. He can play - tastefully, as was the requirement on this gig. Brown, together with other members of the Paul James Band, has secured a last Sunday in the month lunchtime jazz gig at the hotel. A diner's affair, it will set you back £24.95.. 

I moved on, all of three metres down Fenkle Street, to the Assembly Rooms. A street party was about to begin. For some reason bunting was abundant, tables were covered in red, white and blue tablecloths and the entertainment was about to begin. Brian Bennett, resplendent in dickie-bow, said Welcome folks to the assembled masses - all two of them seated at a tressle table - and the Vieux Carré Jazzmen kicked-off with drummer and vocalist Fred Thompson singing Margie
For the record: Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Barry Soulsby (clarinet & vocals), Fred Rowe (trumpet & vocals), Lawrence McBriarty (trombone), Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) & Phil Rutherford (sousaphone). A mountain of cucumber sandwiches had few takers, free Pimm's likewise and then the Vieux Carré's banner fell down. A hiatus ensued as Bennett and co. got to work with the gaffer tape. I went home to read the Morning Star.
RUSSELL.

2 comments :

Roly said...

Russell, I hope you found a few moments to pay homage to Joe Cowen (The Blaydon Brick) at his statue and to reflect on his great contribution to Victorian Tyneside in general and the Blaydon locality in particular. I'm sure he would be looking down on all this diverse jazz activity with approval.

Brian Bennett said...

Hi, Russell!
This pic was taken during the band's first break (about 30 minutes after you left) - by 3.30pm the place was packed.
A brilliant, fun afternoon enjoyed by everyone including Chi Onwurah MP who was one of the invited guests.

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